1 Esdras 2

1 ΒΑΣΙΛΕΥΟΝΤΟΣ Κύρου Περσῶν ἔτους πρώτου εἰς συντέλειαν ρήματος Κυρίου ἐν στόματι Ἱερεμίου,

1 In the first year of Cyrus king of the Persians, that the word of the Lord might be accomplished, that he had promised by the mouth of Jeremy;

2 ἤγειρε Κύριος τὸ πνεῦμα Κύρου βασιλέως Περσῶν, καὶ ἐκήρυξεν ἐν ὅλῃ τῇ βασιλείᾳ αὐτοῦ καὶ ἅμα διά γραπτῶν λέγων·

2 The Lord raised up the spirit of Cyrus the king of the Persians, and he made proclamation through all his kingdom, and also by writing,

3 τάδε λέγει ὁ βασιλεὺς Περσῶν Κῦρος· ἐμὲ ἀνέδειξε βασιλέα τῆς οἰκουμένης ὁ Κύριος τοῦ Ἰσραήλ, Κύριος ὁ ¨Υψιστος.

3 Saying, Thus says Cyrus king of the Persians; The Lord of Israel, the most high Lord, has made me king of the whole world,

4 καὶ ἐσήμηνέ μοι οἰκοδομῆσαι αὐτῷ οἶκον ἐν Ἱερουσαλήμ, τῇ ἐν τῇ Ἰουδαίᾳ.

4 And commanded me to build him an house at Jerusalem in Jewry.

5 εἴ τις ἐστὶν οὖν ὑμῶν ἐκ τοῦ ἔθνους αὐτοῦ, ἔστω ὁ Κύριος αὐτοῦ μετ᾿ αὐτοῦ, καὶ ἀναβὰς εἰς τὴν Ἱερουσαλὴμ τὴν ἐν τῇ Ἰουδαίᾳ οἰκοδομείτω τὸν οἶκον τοῦ Κυρίου τοῦ Ἰσραήλ (οὗτος ὁ Κύριος ὁ κατασκηνώσας ἐν Ἱερουσαλήμ).

5 If therefore there be any of you that are of his people, let the Lord, even his Lord, be with him, and let him go up to Jerusalem that is in Judea, and build the house of the Lord of Israel: for he is the Lord that dwells in Jerusalem.

6 ὅσοι οὖν κατὰ τοὺς τόπους οἰκοῦσι, βοηθείτωσαν αὐτῷ οἱ ἐν τῷ τόπῳ αὐτοῦ ἐν χρυσίῳ καὶ ἐν ἀργυρίῳ, ἐν δόσεσι μεθ᾿ ἵππων καὶ κτηνῶν σὺν τοῖς ἄλλοις τοῖς κατ᾿ εὐχὰς προστεθειμένοις εἰς τὸ ἱερὸν τοῦ Κυρίου τὸ ἐν Ἱερουσαλήμ.

6 Whosoever then dwell in the places about, let them help him, those, I say, that are his neighbours, with gold, and with silver, With gifts, with horses, and with cattle, and other things, which have been set forth by vow, for the temple of the Lord at Jerusalem. (verse 2:6-7 in Brenton's English)

7 καὶ καταστήσαντες οἱ ἀρχίφυλοι τῶν πατριῶν τῆς Ἰούδα καὶ Βενιαμὶν φυλῆς καὶ οἱ ἱερεῖς καὶ οἱ Λευῖται καὶ πάντων, ὧν ἤγειρε Κύριος τὸ πνεῦμα ἀναβῆναι οἰκοδομῆσαι οἶκον τῷ Κυρίῳ τὸ ἐν Ἱερουσαλήμ,

7 Then the chief of the families of Judea and of the tribe of Benjamin stood up; the priests also, and the Levites, and all they whose mind the Lord had moved to go up, and to build an house for the Lord at Jerusalem, (verse 8 in Brenton's English)

8 καὶ οἱ περικύκλῳ αὐτῶν ἐβοήθησαν ἐν πᾶσιν ἐν ἀργυρίῳ καὶ χρυσίῳ, ἵπποις, κτήνεσι καὶ εὐχαῖς ὡς πλείσταις πολλῶν, ὧν ὁ νοῦς ἠγέρθη.

8 And they that lived round about them, and helped them in all things with silver and gold, with horses and cattle, and with very many free gifts of a great number whose minds were stirred up thereto. (verse 9 in Brenton's English)

9 καὶ ὁ βασιλεὺς Κῦρος ἐξήνεγκε τὰ ἱερὰ σκεύη τοῦ Κυρίου, ἃ μετήνεγκε Ναβουχοδονόσορ ἐξ Ἱερουσαλήμ, καὶ ἀπηρείσατο αὐτὰ ἐν τῷ εἰδωλείῳ αὐτοῦ·

9 King Cyrus also brought forth the holy vessels, which Nabuchodonosor had carried away from Jerusalem, and had set up in his temple of idols. (verse 10 in Brenton's English)

10 ἐξενέγκας δὲ αὐτὰ Κῦρος ὁ βασιλεὺς Περσῶν παρέδωκεν αὐτὰ Μιθραδάτῃ τῷ ἑαυτοῦ γαζοφύλακι·

10 Now when Cyrus king of the Persians had brought them forth, he delivered them to Mithridates his treasurer: (verse 11 in Brenton's English)

11 διά δὲ τούτου παρεδόθησαν Σαμανασσάρῳ προστάτῃ τῆς Ἰουδαίας.

11 And by him they were delivered to Sanabassar the governor of Judea. (verse 12 in Brenton's English)

12 ὁ δὲ τούτων ἀριθμὸς ἦν· σπονδεῖα χρυσᾶ χίλια, σπονδεῖα ἀργυρᾶ χίλια, θυΐσκαι ἀργυραῖ εἰκοσιεννέα, φιάλαι χρυσαῖ τριάκοντα, ἀργυραῖ δισχίλιαι τετρακόσιαι δέκα καὶ ἄλλα σκεύη χίλια.

12 And this was the number of them; A thousand golden cups, and a thousand of silver, censers of silver twenty nine, vials of gold thirty, and of silver two thousand and four hundred and ten, and a thousand other vessels. (verse 13 in Brenton's English)

13 τὰ δὲ πάντα σκεύη διεκομίσθη, χρυσᾶ καὶ ἀργυρᾶ, πεντακισχίλια τετρακόσια ἑξηκονταεννέα·

13 So all the vessels of gold and of silver, which were carried away, were five thousand and four hundred threescore and nine. (verse 14 in Brenton's English)

14 ἀνηνέχθη δὲ ὑπὸ Σαμανασσάρου ἅμα τοῖς ἐκ τῆς αἰχμαλωσίας ἐκ Βαβυλῶνος εἰς Ἱερουσαλήμ.

14 These were brought back by Sanabassar, together with them of the captivity, from Babylon to Jerusalem. (verse 15 in Brenton's English)

15 Ἐν δὲ τοῖς ἐπὶ Ἀρταξέρξου τῶν Περσῶν βασιλέως χρόνοις κατέγραψαν αὐτῷ κατὰ τῶν κατοικούντων ἐν τῇ Ἰουδαίᾳ καὶ Ἱερουσαλὴμ Βήλεμος καὶ Μιθραδάτης καὶ Ταβέλλιος καὶ Ράθυμος καὶ Βεέλτεθμος καὶ Σαμέλλιος ὁ γραμματεὺς καὶ οἱ λοιποὶ οἱ τούτοις συντασσόμενοι, οἰκοῦντες δὲ ἐν Σαμαρείᾳ καὶ τοῖς ἄλλοις τόποις, τὴν ὑπογεγραμμένην ἐπιστολήν·

15 But in the time of Artaxerxes king of the Persians Belemus, and Mithridates, and Tabellius, and Rathumus, and Beeltethmus, and Semellius the secretary, with others that were in commission with them, dwelling in Samaria and other places, wrote to him against them that lived in Judea and Jerusalem these letters following; (verse 16 in Brenton's English)

16 ‘Βασιλεῖ Ἀρταξέρξῃ κυρίῳ οἱ παῖδές σου Ράθυμος ὁ τὰ προσπίπτοντα καὶ Σαμέλλιος ὁ γραμματεὺς καὶ ἐπίλοιποι τῆς βουλῆς αὐτῶν καὶ κριταὶ οἱ ἐν Κοίλῃ Συρίᾳ καὶ Φοινίκῃ·

16 To king Artaxerxes our lord, Your servants, Rathumus the storywriter, and Semellius the scribe, and the rest of their council, and the judges that are in Celosyria and Phenice. (verse 17 in Brenton's English)

17 καὶ νῦν γνωστὸν ἔστω τῷ κυρίῳ βασιλεῖ, ὅτι οἱ Ἰουδαῖοι ἀναβάντες παρ᾿ ὑμῶν πρὸς ἡμᾶς ἐλθόντες εἰς Ἱερουσαλήμ, τὴν πόλιν τὴν ἀποστάτιν καὶ πονηρὰν οἰκοδομοῦσι, τάς τε ἀγορὰς αὐτῆς καὶ τὰ τείχη θεραπεύουσι καὶ ναὸν ὑποβάλλονται.

17 Be it now known to the lord king, that the Jews that are up from you to us, being come into Jerusalem, that rebellious and wicked city, do build the marketplaces, and repair the walls of it and do lay the foundation of the temple. (verse 18 in Brenton's English)

18 ἐὰν οὖν ἡ πόλις αὕτη οἰκοδομηθῇ καὶ τὰ τείχη συντελεσθῇ, φορολογίαν οὐ μὴ ὑπομείνωσι δοῦναι, ἀλλὰ καὶ βασιλεῦσιν ἀντιστήσονται. καὶ ἐπεὶ ἐνεργεῖται τὰ κατὰ τὸν ναόν, καλῶς ἔχειν ὑπολαμβάνομεν μὴ ὑπεριδεῖν τὸ τοιοῦτον, ἀλλὰ προσφωνῆσαι τῷ κυρίῳ βασιλεῖ, ὅπως, ἂν φαίνηταί σοι, ἐπισκεφθῇ ἐν τοῖς ἀπὸ τῶν πατέρων σου βιβλίοις·

18 Now if this city and the walls thereof be made up again, they will not only refuse to give tribute, but also rebel against kings. And forasmuch as the things pertaining to the temple are now in hand, we think it meet not to neglect such a matter, (verse 2:19-20 in Brenton's English)

19 καὶ εὑρήσεις ἐν τοῖς ὑπομνηματισμοῖς γεγραμμένα περὶ τούτων καὶ γνώσῃ ὅτι ἡ πόλις ἐκείνη ἦν ἀποστάτις καὶ βασιλεῖς καὶ πόλεις ἐνοχλοῦσα καὶ οἱ Ἰουδαῖοι ἀποστάται καὶ πολιορκίας συνιστάμενοι ἐν αὐτῇ ἔτι ἐξ αἰῶνος, δι᾿ ἣν αἰτίαν καὶ ἡ πόλις αὕτη ἠρημώθη.

19 And you shall find in the chronicles what is written concerning these things, and shall understand that that city was rebellious, troubling both kings and cities: And that the Jews were rebellious, and raised always wars therein; for the which cause even this city was made desolate. (verse 2:22-23 in Brenton's English)

20 νῦν οὖν ὑποδεικνύομέν σοι, κύριε βασιλεῦ, ὅτι ἐὰν ἡ πόλις αὕτη οἰκοδομηθῇ καὶ τὰ ταύτης τείχη ἀνασταθῇ, κάθοδος οὐκ ἔτι σοι ἔσται εἰς Κοίλην Συρίαν καὶ Φοινίκην’.

20 Therefore now we do declare to you, O lord the king, that if this city be built again, and the walls thereof set up anew, you shall from henceforth have no passage into Celosyria and Phenice. (verse 24 in Brenton's English)

21 τότε ἀντέγραψεν ὁ βασιλεὺς Ραθύμῳ τῷ γράφοντι τὰ προσπίπτοντα καὶ Βεελτέθμῳ καὶ Σαμελλίῳ γραμματεῖ καὶ τοῖς λοιποῖς τοῖς συντασσομένοις καὶ οἰκοῦσιν ἐν τῇ Σαμαρείᾳ καὶ Συρίᾳ καὶ Φοινίκῃ τὰ ὑπογεγραμμένα·

21 Then the king wrote back again to Rathumus the storywriter, to Beeltethmus, to Semellius the scribe, and to the rest that were in commission, and dwellers in Samaria and Syria and Phenice, after this manner; (verse 25 in Brenton's English)

22 ‘ Ἀνέγνων τὴν ἐπιστολήν, ἣν πεπόμφατε πρός με. ἐπέταξα οὖν ἐπισκέψασθαι, καὶ εὑρέθη ὅτι ἡ πόλις ἐκείνη ἐστὶν ἐξ αἰῶνος βασιλεῦσιν ἀντιπαρατάσσουσα

22 I have read the epistle which you⌃ have sent to me: therefore I commanded to make diligent search, and it has been found that that city was from the beginning practising against kings; (verse 26 in Brenton's English)

23 καὶ οἱ ἄνθρωποι ἀποστάσεις καὶ πολέμους ἐν αὐτῇ συντελοῦντες καὶ βασιλεῖς ἰσχυροὶ καὶ σκληροὶ ἦσαν ἐν Ἱερουσαλὴμ κυριεύοντες καὶ φορολογοῦντες Κοίλην Συρίαν καὶ Φοινίκην.

23 And the men therein were given to rebellion and war: and that mighty kings and fierce were in Jerusalem, who reigned and exacted tributes in Celosyria and Phenice. (verse 27 in Brenton's English)

24 νῦν οὖν ἐπέταξα ἀποκωλῦσαι τοὺς ἀνθρώπους ἐκείνους τοῦ οἰκοδομῆσαι τὴν πόλιν καὶ προνοηθῆναι ὅπως μηδὲν παρὰ ταῦτα γένηται καὶ μὴ προβῇ ἐπὶ πλεῖον τὰ τῆς κακίας εἰς τὸ βασιλεῖς ἐνοχλῆσαι’.

24 Now therefore I have commanded to hinder those men from building the city, and heed to be taken that there be no more done in it; And that those wicked workers proceed no further to the annoyance of kings, (verse 2:28-29 in Brenton's English)

25 τότε ἀναγνωσθέντων τῶν παρὰ τοῦ βασιλέως Ἀρταξέρξου γραφέντων, Ράθυμος καὶ Σαμέλλιος ὁ γραμματεὺς καὶ οἱ τούτοις συντασσόμενοι ἀναζεύξαντες εἰς Ἱερουσαλὴμ κατὰ σπουδὴν μεθ᾿ ἵππου καὶ ὄχλου παρατάξεως, ἤρξαντο κωλύειν τοὺς οἰκοδομοῦντας. καὶ ἤργει ἡ οἰκοδομὴ τοῦ ἱεροῦ τοῦ ἐν Ἱερουσαλὴμ μέχρι τοῦ δευτέρου ἔτους τῆς βασιλείας Δαρείου τοῦ Περσῶν βασιλέως.

25 Then king Artaxerxes his letters being read, Rathumus, and Semellius the scribe, and the rest that were in commission with them, removing in haste towards Jerusalem with a troop of horsemen and a multitude of people in battle array, began to hinder the builders; and the building of the temple in Jerusalem ceased until the second year of the reign of Darius king of the Persians. (verse 30 in Brenton's English)